SEMO HOPES TO RAISE MILLIONS

Southeast Missouri State University may raise an estimated $25 million in a new capital campaign, including $7.5 million for construction of a performing arts center.

The campaign is still in the planning stages and nothing has been finalized, said Wayne Davenport, who heads up fund-raising at the university.

Davenport is vice president of university advancement and the executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

He said the fund-raising campaign could begin later this year with a private phase in which the university would seek to secure major contributions.

Typically, 50 percent of the money raised in a fund drive comes from about 10 percent of the donors, Davenport said.

The public phase of the fund drive probably won't be launched until spring of 1999, he said.

Tentative plans focus on raising money in six areas: facilities, student scholarships, curriculum, public service, technology and building campus community.

The largest share of the $25 million -- an estimated $9.5 million -- would be earmarked for three building projects, Davenport said.

The bulk of that money -- $7.5 million -- would be earmarked for a fine and performing arts center. Another $1.5 million would be used toward construction of a polytechnic institute, and $500,000 would go for as yet unspecified athletic facilities.

Tentative plans suggest the university would raise $6.25 million for student scholarships.

Another $3.25 million would be earmarked for the creation of a regional public service institute, and funding of off-campus centers including the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center and the Crisp Bootheel Education Center in Malden, and long-distance learning technology.

The capital campaign would seek to raise $3 million for technology items, including instructional labs and equipment for the library.

The fund-drive would seek $1.5 million for internships and endowed professorships and lectureships; and a similar amount for student leadership and staff development programs, and Common Hour lectures and events.

Davenport said the amounts, categories and potential projects are still in the discussion stage.

Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, said the $7.5 million price tag for a performing arts center is tentative at best. "Nothing has been decided at this point," he said.

"We may find out we need another $2 to $3 million and we may go to the Legislature for that," Nitzschke said.

At this stage, the university is considering a fine and performing arts center that could have seating for 1,200 to 1,500 people, with room for future expansion, Nitzschke said.

An art gallery could be included in the center.

The university is looking at the possibility of building the center as an addition to an existing building on campus, Nitzschke said.

The university, he said, needs to provide cultural opportunities for the region.

"We are 125 years old here and we have got to do more of the kinds of things that represent sophisticated, mature universities," Nitzschke said.

"Clearly, an up-to-date fine and performing arts center is one way to do that," he said.

Southeast has stages in both Academic Hall and the Grauel Building. But the university president said the school needs a multifaceted, modern stage setting where "the floors drop away and the walls collapse and ceilings come down."

The university had looked into the possibility of converting Old St. Vincent's Seminary into a fine and performing arts center.

The former Catholic seminary is owned by the Vincentian Fathers.

A spokesman for the Vincentian Fathers said the university had inquired if the Catholic organization would donate the vacant seminary complex.

The Vincentian Fathers rejected the idea. The Catholic group wants to sell the property, not donate it, said the spokesman, who asked to remain anonymous.

Nitzschke said the capital campaign could include funding for a regional public service institute.

The institute would serve as a central processing center to coordinate a wide range of university programs and projects to address the many economic, social and health-care needs of communities throughout the region, he said.

The university's various departments and colleges already conduct a number of programs and projects to meet community needs.

But Nitzschke said there is little coordination between the various programs, and communities and the public don't know where to turn for help.

A public service institute could address that problem, Nitzschke said.

Davenport said the university has obtained input from more than 260 employees and nearly 40 student leaders as to fund-raising priorities.

The foundation board has hired First Counsel Inc., a Charlotte, N.C., consulting firm, to help plan the campaign.

The consultants will interview abut 100 to 125 major donors and alumni in the region and elsewhere this month to determine possible funding priorities.

The consultants will then report to the foundation board. The board will use that report to help formulate the capital campaign, Davenport said.

This capital campaign will target donors in a wider region. The university's previous fund drive focused primarily on donors in the Cape Girardeau area, he said.

The fund drive will target alumni in Southeast Missouri, as well as the counties of Jefferson, St. Louis and St. Charles, and the city of St. Louis.

It also will focus on three other regions of the state where Southeast has a number of alumni, Davenport said. Those regions are the Kansas City area, southwest Missouri, and the Columbia and Jefferson City area.